MTDC to start plying Deccan Odyssey on Mumbai-Shirdi route

With an aim to tap the higher middle class and leisure travellers, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), which runs the luxury train Deccan Odyssey, plans to use the train for Religious Tourism to the popular pilgrimage destination, Shirdi in Ahmednagar district. MTDC will charge around Rs 20,000 per person for the round trip. The journey will also cover Trimbakeshwar, venue of one of the Jyotirlinga Temples, near Nashik. The refurbished train is expected to make its first run in a week’s time. 

An MTDC official said, “When first commissioned, the train used to take tourists around Maharashtra (there was also a day trip to Goa) to promote tourism in the state. But this did not receive an encouraging response and we handed over the train to a private operator. Now the train has been repainted from navy blue to purple and the interiors have undergone much change. Soon, we will run two-night round trips to Shirdi, the schedule for which is yet to be finalised.”

Karnataka Tourism launches Jungle Camps and Trails programme

Karnataka Tourism has launched a new programme aimed at budget tourists – Jungle Camps and Trails (JCT) - in 10 locations in the southern part of the state. The new programme complements the government-run initiative, the Jungle Lodges and Resorts programme which taps top-end Eco-Tourists to the southern state.

“Jungle Camps and Trails is our new initiative offering varied Eco-Tourism destinations in the bewitching and picturesque Western Ghats in Southern Karnataka,” said K Vishwanatha Reddy, Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka. The programme is targeted at low budget tourists and includes places such as isolated beaches, dense tropical forests, hill stations, rivers and wildlife sanctuaries as well as the popular elephant camp.

Centre to showcase lesser known destinations during Formula One (F-1)

With the inaugural Indian Grand Prix set to draw huge foreign and domestic crowds, the Tourism Ministry has decided to showcase the lesser known destinations during the event. The Ministry has finalised a blueprint to utilise the Formula One route to promote more than 50 destinations in an aggressive 'Incredible India' campaign. Besides this, the Ministry will also be launching 'Know your City', a new media campaign for F1 enthusiasts. The races will be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, 24 KM from Delhi.

"We are utilising the Formula One event to promote our lesser known destinations including beaches, monuments, mountains, sand dunes, festivals and cuisines in a big way," said a senior Tourism Ministry official, involved with the Incredible India campaign. "Though some of our well known destinations like the Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar and other tourist spots in Kerala and Goa will feature in the campaign, our focus will be on highlighting the lesser-known attractions during the event," the official added.

Maharashtra’s historical caves favourite among state’s Heritage destinations

Historical caves, particularly the Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta caves have emerged as the most popular heritage tourist stops for foreigners over the last three years. Lesser-known heritage sites such as Bibi ka Maqbara, considered Maharashtra's replica of the Taj Mahal, and the Agakhan Palace near Pune, a live memorial of sorts for Mahatma Gandhi, have also been witnessing increasing foreign footfalls.

Despite the repeated terror strikes and inadequate tourist infrastructure facilities in the state, foreign tourists visiting the states ticketed at heritage monuments have jumped by around 35 per cent in the last three years. The number of foreign visitors rose from 99,540 in 2008-09 to 1.33 lakh in 2010-11, figures from the Ministry of Culture showed, according to a report by Madhavi Rajadhyaksha in The Times of India.